Not so very long ago, Sabarimala would have been an unknown entity outside Kerala. Now, this debate over gender bristles with implications on a host of questions relating to society, politics, law and religion across India.
1902 The Brahmin Thazhamon family is said to have taken over custody from the tribal Mala Arayans, who had a shamanic cult.
1920s The Maharaja of Travancore visits, with a priest, performs pujas. The royal house actively promotes the pilgrimage.
1939 The Maharani of Travancore visits the temple. She was under 50 at the time. One of the many such cases.
1950 A fire guts the temple. Arson with a communal angle is alleged; others say poachers might have set the shrine ablaze.
1955 The first formal ban on women’s entry; the Travancore Devaswom Board says women aged 10–55 can’t enter.
1965 State rules bar from any Hindu shrine “women at such time during which they are not by custom or usage allowed....”
1991 The final ban. The Kerala HC issues a blanket ban on women aged 10–50, even on the first five days of the non-season months.
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